Poetry Reading & Open Mic!
Guest readers Lesley Wheeler and Matthew Nienow will be joining us for an evening of poetry!
Lesley Wheeler’s sixth book is Mycocosmic. Her work appears in Orion, Poetry, Poets & Writers, Pleiades, Ecotone, and elsewhere, and she is Poetry Editor of Shenandoah. She has received support from the Fulbright Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Bread Loaf Environmental Writers Workshop, and the Sewanee Writers Workshop. She hails from Virginia.
Matthew Nienow’s recently released collection, is *If Nothing *(Alice James Books, 2025). He is the author of House of Water and three chapbooks. His work have appeared in Gulf Coast, Lit Hub, New England Review, Ploughshares, Poetry, and elsewhere. He has received fellowships from the Poetry Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Artist Trust. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington, with his wife and sons, where he works as a mental health counselor.
Sign up to read opens at 6:45pm. Ages 14+
*Cookies, courtesy of T & C, wine, and tea will be served.
*Hosted by our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, and Bainbridge Public Library. Event held at Bainbridge Public Library at 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Irish Arts & Literature Showcase
Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum is proud to present the inaugural
Irish Arts and Literature Showcase 2025
In partnership with the National Library of Ireland, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Seattle UNESCO City of Literature and the Seattle Public Library and our presenting partners Town Hall Seattle, Hugo House, and Seattle Public Library, we invite you to immerse yourself in a three-day event dedicated to celebrating the richness of Ireland’s literary and artistic traditions.
Committed to fostering literature and the arts as vital forces in civic life, and affirming the power of creativity to connect communities across oceans and generations, we invite all to participate in this new and exciting cultural exchange between the Emerald Isle and the Emerald City.
Through curated lectures, artist talks, music performances, writing workshops and conversations, Folio warmly invites you to join us in celebrating the enduring bonds between our two literary communities.
For more info and to register https://www.folioseattle.org/irisharts?mc_cid=75f0f679ab&mc_eid=7f09e88aa3
An Evening of Poetry
Join us for an unforgettable evening of poetry with three extraordinary voices from the Pacific Northwest:
Lisa Ashley
Pushcart Prize nominee and author of Oubliettes of Light, a finalist for the Sally Albiso Award. Her poetry reflects a life shaped by resilience, spiritual inquiry, and deep compassion, drawing from her Armenian heritage and years supporting incarcerated youth. She writes from her log home among the firs on Bainbridge Island, WA. Learn more about Lisa here.
Lillo Way
Author of Dubious Moon, winner of the Hudson Valley Writers Center’s Slapering Hol Chapbook Contest, and recipient of the E.E. Cummings Award. Her work has appeared in Poet Lore, RHINO, New Letters, and many others. A multi-time Pushcart Prize nominee, Way’s poetry is deeply informed by her background in choreography and supported by grants from the NEA and NYSCA. Learn more about Lillo's work here.
Bethany Reid
Award-winning poet and author of The Pear Tree: Elegy for a Farm, Body My House, and Sparrow. With an MFA and PhD from the University of Washington, Reid’s work explores memory, family, and the land with lyrical precision and emotional depth. Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, and she is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards. Learn more about Bethany here.
Come early for refreshments and stay for a Q&A and book signing. Whether you're a longtime poetry lover or simply curious, this evening promises inspiration, connection, and the beauty of words rooted in place.
For more info - https://www.eagleharborbooks.com/event/voices-pacific-northwest-poetry-evening-featuring-lisa-ashley-lillo-way-and-bethany-reid
WRITING AS RESISTANCE: Art Disrupts Authoritarianism, So Let's Make Art (Copy)
WRITING AS RESISTANCE: Art Disrupts Authoritarianism, So Let's Make Art
Join Michele Bombardier, Bainbridge Island's Poet Laureate, in this generative workshop. We will listen to some poems and write poems or prose of our own. Authoritarians have always understood a certain truth: creativity is a threat to their power. The suppression of artists and the creation of state approved art have historically characterized totalitarian regimes. - Human Rights Foundation
Saturday, September 27th, 3 - 4:15 pm at the Bainbridge Public Library Meeting Room. Just bring yourself, paper, and a pen!
Poetry Reading & Open Mic!
Welcome guest reader Tina Schumann! She is the author of four poetry collections: Boneyard Heresies (Moon City Press award winner), Praising the Paradox (Red Hen), Requiem. A Patrimony of Fugues, (Diode award winner) and As If (Parlor City Press) winner of the Stephen Dunn Prize. She is editor of the anthology Two-Countries: U.S. Daughters and Sons of Immigrant Parents, (Red Hen). Her work has seen publication since 1999 including Cimarron Review, Michigan Quarterly, The Missouri Review, Poetry Daily, Rattle, Verse Daily and NPR's The Writer’s Almanac.
Sign up to read opens at 6:45pm. Ages 14+ *Cookies, courtesy of T & C, wine, and tea will be served. *Hosted by our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, at Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Poetry Reading & Open Mic!
Welcome guest reader Cindy Huyser, an award-winning poet, photographer, and author of Cartography (Taos Press, 2025) and the contest-winning chapbook Burning Number Five: Power Plant Poems (Blue Horse Press, 2014). She hails from Austin, Texas.
Sign up to read opens at 6:45pm. Ages 14+ *Cookies, courtesy of T & C, wine, and tea will be served. *Hosted by our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, at Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Pen to Paper: A Healing Practice Using Poetic Prompts at BARN
Use poetry prompts specifically curated for their ability to inspire writing from the "belly", not the brain.
A series of three classes:
Sun, 8/3/2025 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Sun, 8/10/2025 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM, and Sun, 8/17/2025 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
For more info and registration: https://www.create.bainbridgebarn.org/AssnFe/ev.asp?ID=5322727
WRITING AS RESISTANCE: Art Disrupts Authoritarianism, So Let's Make Art (Copy)
WRITING AS RESISTANCE: Art Disrupts Authoritarianism, So Let's Make Art
Join Michele Bombardier, Bainbridge Island's Poet Laureate, in this generative workshop. We will listen to some poems and write poems or prose of our own. Authoritarians have always understood a certain truth: creativity is a threat to their power. The suppression of artists and the creation of state approved art have historically characterized totalitarian regimes. - Human Rights Foundation
Tuesday, July 29th, 4:30-5:45 pm at the Bainbridge Public Library Meeting Room. Just bring yourself, paper, and a pen!
Nicole Cannon Poetry Virtual Book Launch!
Virtual Book Launch & Reading for A Woman in Pieces Wednesday, July 23 at 5:00pm (PT)
Click here for more info and to sign up! https://mailchi.mp/1b655ddb3d0b/bainbridge-island-press-your-weekend-poetry-list-is-here-10336253
Poetry Reading & Open Mic!
TWO amazing poets will be coming to Bainbridge Library on Thursday, June 17th!
Kami Westhoff is the author of the collection The Criteria and four poetry chapbooks, including Sacral, winner of the 2023 Floating Bridge Chapbook Contest. Her work has appeared in various journals. She teaches creative writing at WWU in Bellingham, WA.
Dion O'Reilly is the author of Limerence, Sadness of the Apex Predator, and Ghost Dogs. Her work appears in Cincinnati Review, Slowdown, Alaska Quarterly, The Sun, and Rattle.
Sign up to read opens at 6:45pm. Ages 14+ *Cookies, courtesy of T & C, wine, and tea will be served. *Hosted by our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, at Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Celebrated Poets Elise Paschen and Sophie Cabot Black Share Their Captivating Poems
Celebrated Poets Elise Paschen and Sophie Cabot Black Share Their Captivating Poems at Eagle Harbor Book Co.
Poetry Reading & Open Mic
Guest reader Julia B. Levine will be joining us for an evening of poetry!
Julia B. Levine is the author of six collections of poetry, including Small Disasters Seen in Sunlight, (LSU, 2014), winner of the 2015 Northern California Book Award. Her most recent, Lullaby for the Sixth Extinction, winner of the Wolfson Press Award, will be available in Fall 2025.
Sign up to read opens at 6:45pm. Ages 14+
*Cookies, courtesy of T & C, wine, and tea will be served.
*Hosted by our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, and Bainbridge Public Library. Event held at Bainbridge Public Library at 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Famed Poets James Crews and Brad Peacock Share the Anthology "Love is For All Of Us"
Famed Poets James Crews and Brad Peacock Share the Anthology "Love is For All Of Us" at Eagle Harbor Book Co.
For details: https://www.eagleharborbooks.com/event/famed-poets-james-crews-and-brad-peacock-share-anthology-love-all-us
Rally for Democracy at Lynwood Theater
Our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, will be reading at this event!
For the schedule and for more information: https://www.farawayentertainment.com/movie/rally-for-democracy
Foraging for Imagery Poetry Workshop & Walk
Foraging for Imagery: Generative Poetry Workshop and Walk with Creative Resident Laura Villareal
Humans are naturally metaphor seeking, but in this hectic and distraction-riddled world it can be difficult to hone in on our environment. In this class, we will go for a walk through the Bloedel gardens and spend time observing various plants. We’ll discuss how to locate metaphors and other figurative language in our observations. Through guided questions and prompts, we will generate new poems after the walk.
WHERE Meet at the Japanese Guest House, Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island
Click here for tickets: https://bloedelreserve.org/event/foraging-for-imagery/
Partners in Poetry Fundraiser at BIMA
An afternoon of poetry from slam artists and students to raise funds for Tuberculosis research and treatment.
For more info and tickets: https://bainbridgecurrents.com/event/partners-in-poetry-2/
Asian Monologues at BIMA
Laugh, cry, and feel inspired by 10-minute vignettes on stage by local Asian American artists, authors, poets, and performers sharing “Their Story, Their Glory, and Their Struggle.”
Recommended contribution of $20
For tickets: https://www.biartmuseum.org/event/asian-monologues/
Poetry Book Release Reading
MoonPath Press presents poets Lisa Ashley and Cindy Veach. They will read from their latest books in this online gathering.
For more information and to register follow this link: https://moonpathpress.com/ReadingInvitation17May25.htm
Poetry Reading & Open Mic
Guest readers Erin Malone and Kathryn Hunt will be joining us for an evening of poetry!
Erin Malone is a poet and editor living on Bainbridge Island. Her newest collection, Site of Disappearance (Ornithopter, 2023), was a finalist for the National Poetry Series and the Alice James Award.
Kathryn Hunt is a poet and writer and makes her home in Port Townsend, Washington, on the coast of the Salish Sea. She is author of two poetry collections, Long Way Through Ruin and Seed Wheel, and two chapbooks, The Country I Come From and She Who Walks the Earth. She is the cofounder and curator of Poetry on the Salish Sea, a poetry series that brings poets from around the Pacific NW and beyond to the Olympic Peninsula. kathrynhunt.net
Sign up to read opens at 6:45pm. Ages 14+
*Cookies, courtesy of T & C, wine, and tea will be served.
*Hosted by our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, and Bainbridge Public Library. Event held at Bainbridge Public Library at 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Poetry Corners Live at BIMA!
Poetry Corners LIVE
Saturday, April 26th from 2 – 4 p.m. Poetry Corners exhibit and anthology poets read their works. Followed by Poetry Corners Anthology book sale and reception. https://www.bainbridgeislandpoetlaureate.org/poetry-corners
Teen Night at BARN
Teen Night at BARN
Friday, April 18th from 6 – 9 p.m. Teens (grades 7-12) gather for a free evening of art, friends, and creativity! Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate Michele Bombardier will be the guest artist. https://www.create.bainbridgebarn.org/assnfe/ev.asp?ID=5320892
WRITING AS RESISTANCE: Art Disrupts Authoritarianism, So Let's Make Art
WRITING AS RESISTANCE: Art Disrupts Authoritarianism, So Let's Make Art
Join Michele Bombardier, Bainbridge Island's Poet Laureate, in this generative workshop. We will listen to some poems and write poems or prose of our own. Authoritarians have always understood a certain truth: creativity is a threat to their power. The suppression of artists and the creation of state approved art have historically characterized totalitarian regimes. - Human Rights Foundation
Friday, April 18th, 3-4:30 pm at the Bainbridge Public Library Meeting Room. Just bring yourself, paper, and a pen!
Poetry Reading & Open Mic
Guest reader Rae Armantrout will be joining us for an evening of poetry!
Rae Armantrout has published more than two dozen books, including her recent book Go Figure, which came out from Wesleyan in August of 2024. Armantrout’s poems have appeared in journals and anthologies including several editions of The Best American Poetry series, The Norton Anthology of Postmodern American Poetry, Poetry, The New Yorker, Lana Turner, Granta, and The Nation. In 2010 her book Versed won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. She is the current judge of the Yale Younger Poets Prize.
Sign up to read opens at 6:45pm. Ages 14+
*Cookies, courtesy of T & C, wine, and tea will be served.
*Hosted by our poet laureate, Michele Bombardier, and Bainbridge Public Library. Event held at Bainbridge Public Library at 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
Ars Poetica Public Event
ARS POETICA 2025. Artwork Interpreting Poetry. Readings & Receptions:
JG Art – Saturday, April 5. 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts – Saturday, April 5. 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Bainbridge Island Photography Club – Wednesday, April 9. 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Healing Through Creativity
Healing through Creativity: An Afternoon with Pongo Poetry Project. Sunday, April 6. 3 – 5 p.m. at Bainbridge Performing Arts. The community is invited to learn about Pongo Poetry Project, a dynamic non-profit organization inspiring healing among youth in crisis. Enjoy poetry and other creative activities.
Purchase tickets: https://pongopoetryproject.org/healing-through-creativity-bainbridge/
Healing through Creativity: An Afternoon with Pongo Poetry Project
Location: THE BUXTON CENTER FOR BAINBRIDGE PERFORMING ARTS, 200 MADISON AVE N. BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA 98110
For more info and tickets: https://pongopoetryproject.org/healing-through-creativity-bainbridge/
Ars Poetica Public Event
ARS POETICA 2025. Artwork Interpreting Poetry. Readings & Receptions:
JG Art – Saturday, April 5. 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts – Saturday, April 5. 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Bainbridge Island Photography Club – Wednesday, April 9. 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Ars Poetica Public Event
ARS POETICA 2025. Artwork Interpreting Poetry. Readings & Receptions:
JG Art – Saturday, April 5. 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Bainbridge Arts & Crafts – Saturday, April 5. 2:30 – 4 p.m.
Bainbridge Island Photography Club – Wednesday, April 9. 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Poems Have Their Own Mythology
Poems Have Their Own Mythology
This is a series held on Tuesdays, April 1, 15, 22, 29. 3-5 p.m. at BARN. Write poems rooted in traditional and personal mythologies by engaging with poetry texts and prompts. Facilitated by poet and essayist Carrie Beyer.
For more info and to register follow this link: https://www.create.bainbridgebarn.org/AssnFe/ev.asp?ID=5322252